Image Forming Apparatus Blank Area Detection and Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face a time-consuming and burdensome process when printing images, as they need to manually edit and rearrange content to fill blank spaces, which affects the balance and aesthetics of the print result.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that detects blank areas in print information, acquires relevant keywords, searches for related candidate information, and combines selected information with the print data to create a balanced and aesthetically pleasing output, reducing user input and time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the user manually edits and rearranges content to fill blank spaces, then the arrangement balance of the print result is improved, but the time consumption and work burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects blank areas in the print information and fills them with related information without requiring manual user intervention. The image forming apparatus performs the entire process of detecting blank areas, searching for related information, and combining them automatically, making the system serve itself rather than requiring continuous user input.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting blank areas and preparing related information before the final printing process. The image forming apparatus searches for and prepares related information in advance, so that when printing is initiated, the blank areas are already filled with appropriate content, eliminating the need for manual preparation.
2Area of stationary object
If the user manually searches for and pastes images to fill blank areas, then the blank space is reduced, but the number of operations and work burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs the entire process of detecting blank areas, searching for related information, and filling them without requiring manual user operations. The image forming apparatus independently completes all steps from detection to filling, eliminating the need for users to manually search for and paste images.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of blank areas and preliminary search for related information before the user initiates printing. This preliminary action ensures that when the user simply presses the print button, the blank areas are already filled with appropriate related information, reducing the number of operations required.
3Manufacturing precision
If the user performs multiple scanning and printing operations to fill blank areas, then the print quality is improved, but the time taken increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of blank areas and preliminary preparation of related information before the final printing operation. By completing these preparatory steps in advance, the system ensures that the final printing operation produces high-quality results with blank areas filled, without requiring multiple iterative scanning and printing cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The image forming apparatus automatically performs the entire process of detecting blank areas, searching for related information, combining them, and printing in a single integrated operation. This self-service approach eliminates the need for multiple manual scanning and printing iterations, achieving both high print quality and time efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image forming apparatus including an operation processor with which a user performs a predetermined input operation, a print information acquirer that acquires print information, a blank area detector that detects a blank area in the acquired print information, a keyword acquirer that acquires a predetermined number of keywords from text information included in the acquired print information, a related candidate information acquirer that acquires related candidate information related to the acquired keywords from a search range preset in predetermined search range information, a related information combiner that generates a combined image in which related information selected using the operation processor from the acquired related candidate information is combined with the blank area of the acquired print information, and a combined image printing processor that prints the generated combined image on a predetermined printing sheet.